Collaborative Reduced C. difficile Rates in Maryland

​A recent initiative in the state of Maryland resulted in reduced Clostridium difficile rates, according to a study published in the August 2018 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control. The Maryland Patient Safety Center's Clean Collaborative supported 17 acute care hospitals, 3 long-term care facilities, and 4 ambulatory care centers with the goal of improving environmental surface cleaning to reduce C. difficile rates. The collaboration selected an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) monitoring validation system to measure cleaning effectiveness; created a web-based portal for inputting data and educational materials; created an advisory board with representatives from industry, hospitals, and the state health department; developed a list of sampling locations and protocols for collecting samples; trained participants using ATP monitoring validation technology; and analyzed 12 months (ending March 2017) of facility data. The majority (21 of 24; 88%) of participating facilities achieved a 10% reduction in relative light units (RLU) from a baseline month during participation in the study.